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Anurag Basu defends plagiarism charges against Barfi!

Barfi! the official entry to the Oscar in foreign film category
drew criticism for being plagiarism. The members of the Oscar committee are
criticized for choosing Barfi to represent Indian movies at the Academy Awards
this year. There are scenes in the movie where Ranbir Kapoor depicted Charlie
Chaplin but Anurag Basu defends his film and pinning high hopes for the film's success.

Defending his film, director Anurag Basu said, “It baffles
me why people are not appreciating the original plot, screenplay, characters
and situations. The other films that are contenders for the Oscars are really
good films. I am very privileged to be in that group. I paid homage to the
films and filmmakers that I grew up watching”

Allegations about ‘Barfi!’ is that few portions are
straightway lifted from Charlie Chaplin films and other films such as ‘The
Notebook’ and ‘Amelie’, Basu is firm about his work, he said, “I don’t think
they’re replicas, to begin with. Before the film released, I had said that I
have taken inspiration from Chaplin. I never hid that fact. If Oscar winners
like ‘The Artist’ (2011) can take inspiration, why can’t we?”

He further added, “Martin Scorcese and Quentin Tarantino have done the same.
Does that make them thieves? Great moments of cinema that you`ve watched
through the years, stay with you and come out in your work. It doesn`t mean
you`re copying anyone. Thank God ‘The Artiste’ was not made by an Indian. If it
had been, it would have never been nominated for the Oscar, let alone winning
the award."
.Meanwhile, Manju Borah, chairperson of Oscars committee, India,
clarified, “Had we selected any other film, we would have got the same
response. I’m not bothered. Watching 20 films back to back, then choosing the
best, is a tough job. There’s no vested interest. We don’t care who the maker
is or who the star is. It’s the product that matters. ‘Barfi!’, we genuinely
believe, is worthy.”

She further added, “The maker didn’t conceal that from the
audience. In the beginning, it says it’s inspired by Chaplin. Ranbir’s
mannerism is Chaplinesque. But what you take away is purely ‘Barfi!’. We
selected ‘Barfi!’ because of its treatment and freshness. It leaves you happy
and hopeful. There’s no moment of sorrow. And every Oscar movie is about hope
and happiness. In any case, every filmmaker is inspired by some cinema or some
filmmaker.”

On being asked about the selection process, Borah said, “As per the Oscars
committee rules, the 11-member jury have to comprise people associated with
films, like a director, technicians etc. We all watch 20 Indian films in
different languages. Barfi! didn’t get all 11 votes. But it was chosen by the
majority. There were three films in the final round and to get the majority, we
did a three-round dissection and selection.

“We had some brilliant films from the regional sections. But
there can be only one winner”, she said.